Scarce Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of SCARCE

[also more scarce; most scarce]

:

very small in amount or number

:

not plentiful

• Food was getting scarce during the drought.
• scarce resources

make yourself scarce

informal

:

to leave so that you will not be seen in a certain place

• You'd better make yourself scarce before my parents get home.

— scarceness

noun

[noncount]

• The scarceness [=_scarcity_] of the metal made it valuable.

Britannica Dictionary definition of SCARCE

literary

:

almost not at all

:

scarcely or hardly

• I could scarce believe what I was hearing.